28. The Threat to Unity (Romans 14:1-23)

Abstract

The greatest threat to unity in the church today is not this or that doctrine. Sadly, most Christians couldn’t care less about doctrine. Instead, they go to battle over gray areas. A gray area can be defined as anything not explicitly addressed in the Bible. They are preferences and opinions, whether pertaining to music, missions, personalities, facilities, politics, etc. Paul addresses gray areas in his letter to the Romans by singling out two groups of people. The first group represents those who look at gray areas and see black and white. The second group sees gray for what it is, but must strive to be sensitive to the first group to prevent them from stumbling. The first group leans toward the letter of the law; the second group leans toward the spirit of the law. Which group are you in?